Hollywood Studios From the Treasure Coast: Star Wars, Toy Story and the Muppets (2026)

Sep 29

Quick answer: Disney's Hollywood Studios is about 123 miles from Port St. Lucie and 102 from Vero Beach, two hours up the Turnpike, with a parking lot you walk in from and hours that usually run 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It's the park with the biggest rides per acre: Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon in Galaxy's Edge, Slinky Dog Dash in Toy Story Land, Tower of Terror, and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, which reopened May 26, 2026 with the Muppets. The Magic of Disney Animation opened September 14, 2026, and Monstropolis, the Monsters Inc land with Disney's first suspended coaster, starts opening in 2027. Parking is $35, a one day ticket is $139 to $204, and Lightning Lane Multi Pass runs about $18 to $39 a day here. The park's Christmas after hours event, Jollywood Nights, runs 15 nights from November 7 to January 5 at $169 to $199, and on those dates the park closes to day guests at 7 p.m.

Hollywood Studios used to be the half day park. Between Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land, the Runaway Railway and now a rebuilt Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, it isn't anymore. It's the park the teenagers and the thrill riders in the family want, and it's the one where a plan for the first hour matters more than anywhere else at Disney. From the Treasure Coast it's a clean two hour drive with no monorail at the end, which makes it a better morning park than Magic Kingdom. This is the Hollywood Studios part of my Disney from the Treasure Coast guide.

Hollywood Studios at a glance

Drive	About 123 miles from Port St. Lucie, 102 from Vero, 116 from Fort Pierce, 130 from Stuart. Turnpike exit 249 to Osceola Parkway, which drops you almost at the entrance
Parking	$35 standard, walk from the lot to the gate. The Skyliner gondola connects the park to EPCOT's back entrance and four resorts if you're staying over
Hours	Usually 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in fall 2026, with the occasional 8:30 opening. Jollywood Nights dates close the park to day guests at 7 p.m.
One day ticket	$139 to $204 plus tax by date. Florida resident multi day tickets and annual passes bring it well under $100 a visit
Lightning Lane	Multi Pass about $18 to $39 a day in 2026, $18 to $24 on most October dates. Rise of the Resistance is the only Single Pass ride, $20 to $25
New in 2026	Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (May 26), Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live (May 26), the Mandalorian and Grogu mission on Millennium Falcon (May 22), The Magic of Disney Animation (September 14)
Gone	MuppetVision 3D and the Grand Avenue area closed in 2025 for Monstropolis. Mama Melrose's and Star Wars Launch Bay also closed in 2025

The rides, and the order that matters

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is the big draw. Rise of the Resistance is an 18 minute ride through a Star Destroyer with a 40 inch minimum, and it's the ride everyone comes for. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run lets six people fly the ship, and since May 22, 2026 the mission has been a Mandalorian and Grogu bounty hunt through Bespin, Endor and Coruscant. Oga's Cantina is the bar, 45 minute limit, reservations required. Savi's Workshop is the $275 lightsaber, Droid Depot the $120 droid, and both need booking.

Toy Story Land is Slinky Dog Dash, the family coaster with the longest standby line in the park most days, plus Toy Story Mania and Alien Swirling Saucers. Sunset Boulevard has the Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, which reopened May 26, 2026 after a full retheme: same launch and inversions, new story with the Muppets running the show. Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway sits in the Chinese Theatre at the end of Hollywood Boulevard and is the best ride here for the under sevens. Star Tours is still Star Tours.

The order matters because Rise of the Resistance breaks down a lot; one tracker counted it going down on 10 of 30 recent mornings. The reliable plan is Slinky Dog Dash at opening, then Smugglers Run (a 15 minute wait at 9 a.m. on a typical morning while Rise is already at 70), then Rise once it's running, then Tower and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. If you buy one thing, buy the Rise of the Resistance Single Pass in the app three days ahead at 7 a.m.

Shows, and the new animation building

This is also the park with the most stage time. Fantasmic is the nighttime show at 9:30 p.m., 30 minutes on the water at the back of the park, and it's the reason to stay after dark. Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular is running at 10:45, 12 and 1:15, Beauty and the Beast at 11, 1 and 2, the Frozen Sing Along most of the day, and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live opened May 26, 2026 in the Animation Courtyard for the toddler set. The Magic of Disney Animation opened September 14, 2026 in the old animation building with a kids' playground, a character meet area, a new Olaf show and the Once Upon a Studio theater. For a grandparent with a four year old, that building plus Runaway Railway and Toy Story Mania is the whole day.

Monstropolis is coming, in pieces

The Grand Avenue side of the park, where MuppetVision 3D stood until June 2025, is becoming Monstropolis, the Monsters Inc land. Disney says part of it opens in 2027 with the Welcome to Monstropolis show, Harryhausen's restaurant, Archie's Scare Pig Pizza, the Scareporium shop and the Monsters University Alumni Club. The big piece, a suspended coaster through the door vault with a 40 foot vertical lift in four seconds, Disney's first suspended coaster anywhere, comes in a second phase with no date. As of September 2026 the facades and landscaping aren't finished, so plan on a walled off corner of the park for a while yet. It's the reason the park will get busier in 2027, not less.

Jollywood Nights and the holidays

Disney Jollywood Nights is the after hours Christmas event here, and it's the adult version of a Disney party: cocktails, a 1940s Hollywood theme, the Glisten skating show, a Nightmare Before Christmas sing along and the Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM! projection show with snow. The 2026 dates are November 7, 14, 16, 21, 23 and 28, December 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21 and 23, and January 3 and 5. It runs 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. with entry from 5:30, and tickets are $169 to $199 plus tax with $10 off for passholders. On those dates the park closes to regular tickets at 7 p.m., so check before you drive up. Daytime holiday decor and the Sunset Seasons Greetings projections on the Tower run November 13 through January 6, no extra ticket.

How locals do Hollywood Studios

Be there at open. This is the park where the first hour is worth three afternoon hours. Leave Port St. Lucie at 6:30, park at 8:30, be at the tapstiles by 8:45 for a 9 a.m. open. Day guests don't get early entry, so the 30 minutes before opening is when to be in line.
Or come at 6 and stay for Fantasmic. The other good window is the last three hours. Waits drop after 6 p.m., Fantasmic is at 9:30, and you're home by midnight. Passholders can enter after 2 p.m. without a reservation.
Pick a weekday. Monday through Wednesday are the light days here; 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. is the peak. Skip October 9 to 17, the week before Halloween, Thanksgiving week and Christmas week.
Eat somewhere with a story. Sci-Fi Dine-In puts you in a car at a drive in, 50's Prime Time makes you finish your vegetables, the Hollywood Brown Derby is the signature Cobb salad, Docking Bay 7 is the good quick service in Galaxy's Edge and Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Toy Story Land is $35 to $60 a person family style. Book 60 days out.
Use the Skyliner once. If you ever stay at Caribbean Beach, Pop Century, Art of Animation or the Riviera, the gondola to Hollywood Studios is about five minutes and beats the parking lot.

Who this park is for

Hollywood Studios is for the teenagers, the Star Wars people and the coaster riders, and for a grandparent with a small kid it's a surprisingly good day because Runaway Railway, Toy Story Mania and the new animation building have no real height requirement. It's not the park for a couple that wants to wander and eat, that's EPCOT, and it's not the easy half day, that's Animal Kingdom. The families in Veranda Gardens and Lake Charles put this one on the list once the kids clear 40 inches, and the Vitalia grandparents save it for the visit when the older grandkids come. For the castle and the fireworks, see Magic Kingdom.

Questions locals ask about Hollywood Studios

How far is Hollywood Studios from Port St. Lucie?

About 123 road miles, roughly two hours up Florida's Turnpike, with the Osceola Parkway exit dropping you almost at the entrance. Vero Beach is about 102 miles, Fort Pierce 116 and Stuart 130. You park and walk in.

Is Rock 'n' Roller Coaster open?

Yes. It reopened May 26, 2026 as Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, with the same launch and inversions and a new Muppets story. It runs on standby and Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

When does Monstropolis open at Hollywood Studios?

Disney says part of the Monsters Inc land opens in 2027 with a show, restaurants and a shop. The suspended coaster comes in a later phase with no date announced. As of September 2026 the area is still under construction.

What are the Jollywood Nights 2026 dates and prices?

November 7, 14, 16, 21, 23 and 28; December 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21 and 23; and January 3 and 5. The event runs 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. with entry from 5:30, and tickets are $169 to $199 plus tax, $10 less for passholders and ages 3 to 9. The park closes to day guests at 7 p.m. on those dates.

How much is Lightning Lane at Hollywood Studios?

Multi Pass runs about $18 to $39 a day in 2026, with most October dates at $18 to $24 and Christmas week up to about $32. Rise of the Resistance is the only Single Pass ride, about $20 to $25. Day guests can buy three days ahead at 7 a.m. in the app.

What's the best rope drop plan at Hollywood Studios?

Slinky Dog Dash first, then Millennium Falcon Smugglers Run, then Rise of the Resistance once it's confirmed running, since Rise breaks down often in the first hour. Arrive 30 minutes before opening; day guests don't get early entry.

Talk with William. William can show you the Treasure Coast neighborhoods where Orlando is a two hour drive, from family communities with good schools to the 55+ neighborhoods where the older grandkids come for the coasters. Call or text (772) 800-2274 or send a message.

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Park hours, ticket and Lightning Lane prices, event dates and attraction openings change often; confirm current details at disneyworld.com before you go. Drive times are estimates. William Merchant, REALTOR®, RE/MAX Gold. Each RE/MAX office is independently owned and operated.

Sources

William Merchant